Welcome to a day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad! We have traveled a long way and still have a way to go. Keep moving. This year has one more day after today. Use the time loving on someone. The subject matter of this meal is something I believe that all of us can relate to. Let the message be a blessing to you.
Today’s Prayer
Father, Volunteers are special people. I pray that Christians will volunteer time, talents, and treasure for the benefit of Your kingdom. I pray that we will help our fellow man/woman in their times of spiritual, emotional, or physical need. I pray that we will be active in the ministry of our local churches and in good will efforts in our communities. I pray that we will follow Jesus’ example, to be “no respecter of persons.” We must not be prejudiced because of a person’s race, status in society, disabilities, or spiritual standing. We must love, pray, and be willing vessels through which You minister and work in this world. Paid positions are great, but more volunteers are needed to share the responsibilities and manage the resources which You have entrusted to us. Lord, please move through Your Spirit to motivate Christians to service–and please bless those who volunteer. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
Godly Rewards
You have said, “It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.” – Malachi 3:14-15
Have you ever felt that serving God had little reward and the ungodly seemed actually to be more blessed than you? The bible tells us that this is what the people of God felt in the times of Malachi. God heard their cry and responded through the prophet Malachi to explain God’s view on this matter.
Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name. “They will be Mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I take up My treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not” (Malachi 3:16-18).
Notice that after the people complained about this, they began to talk to each other, and the Lord listened and heard. God had been taking note of those who were serving Him and honoring Him. There is a day coming in which God will honor His “treasured possessions.” We will see that there is a distinction between the righteous and the wicked on that day when “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall” (Malachi 4:2). What a beautiful picture of what we will feel like on that day.
God rewards faithful obedience. It often requires patience, suffering, and perseverance. Be of good cheer; He will reward you if you faint not.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Many times we are content with sitting on the sidelines, always hearing about other’s lives being changed in huge ways and God being so important in their life. We go to church and hear people talk about what God has been doing in their life. We go to events and conferences that we hope will microwave our Christian maturity to well done. We read books on how other’s lives were changed. And that is good enough for us, but deep down inside, we wish we could have that happen in our own life. So we make promises to try harder. We recommit our lives to Jesus. We might begin having devotions more often. But, after a while, the desire dies off and the excitement has turned into duty and we give up. Obedience makes the difference in a life that is sold out for God. It is seeing what God does with our attitude of following what He has in the Bible that brings about change in our hearts and a Christian walk that is on fire. ~Zach Conrad~
WITH HOPE AND FAITH
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY